Investigators looking into two south county fires overnight...
Fire has extensively damaged one-side of a two-story, two family house on Jamestown's southside overnight.  City Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Rousch says crews were called to 29 Crown St. about 1:40 this morning... and, found heavy fire coming from both floors of the building.  Rousch says all the occupants got out safely... and, adds it took about an hour to bring the blaze under control.  He says a parked car nearby was also extensively damaged... and, the heat caused the siding on a neighboring house to melt.  Rousch says an off-duty shift was called into assist... along with fire investigators.  The last crews left the scene about 4 a.m.  The cause is under investigation.
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Last night... another fire damaged a home on Route 474 in the Ashville-area.  It was first reported just after 7 p.m., and, county dispatchers say Ashville firefighters received mutual aid from Lakewood, and County EMS.  County fire investigators were called to the scene to search for a cause.

Hochul, State Leg. leaders reach "conceptual agreement" on $229-billion budget...
Judges in New York will have more discretion to jail people awaiting trial for alleged crimes.  That from Governor Kathy Hochul Thursday night... as a "conceptual agreement" had been reached on a new, $229-billion budget with the state legislature.  That policy change had been fiercely resisted by some of her fellow Democrats.  Hochul made her comments during a state Capitol news conference to announce the "conceptual agreement..." which still needs to be approved by lawmakers.  The budget includes policy proposals ranging from a minimum wage hike to allowing more charter schools in New York City.  However... negotiations between the governor and legislative leaders ran well past an Apr. 1 deadline... in large part because Hochul insisted on changes to the state's bail laws.

Borrello and Goodell agree Hochul "gave up a lot" to get "conceptual budget agreement...
Governor Hochul "gave up a lot" to get the conceptual agreement on a $229-billion state budget... that's now four weeks late.  Those are the feelings of Chautauqua County's two state representatives in Albany.  State Senator George Borrello and Assemblyman Andy Goodell discussed the return to "dysfunctional" government during this morning's annual State Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce in Mayville.  Borrello says Hochul gave into speeding up the timetable for eliminating natural gas hook-ups in new home construction by 2025... as well as new minimum wage increases... and, tying that in with the rate of inflation.  Borrello again railed on far-left Democrats who have insisted on putting policy changes in the budget... as opposed to dealing with them separately.  He and Goodell both agree that catering to special interests downstate have led to the budget "mess" this year.  Goodell says downstate interests dominate the budget... with New York City's transit system receiving $4-billion in the spending plan.  He says all of the rest of New York is receiving just under $600-million. 

County IDA approves The Krog Group purchasing former Truck-Lite plant...
A developer from the Buffalo-area has been given the go-ahead to purchase the former Truck-Lite building in Falconer... and, has also been approved for financial incentives to do it.  The final financing package for The Krog Group of Orchard Park to purchase the building was approved Wednesday by the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.  IDA Director Mark Geise says that The Krog Group plans to lease out the facility to a yet-unnamed tenant or tenants within the next few years with an option for the tenant to purchase the building.  IDA officials say the property is being sold for just over $3.6-million, and Krog will receive a 15-year Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes agreement... which would save them about $500,000.  The IDA Board also approved a $900,000 Al Tech loan for development of the building.  Krog's principle owner, Peter Krog, is known to the area as being developer of the Celoron Harborfront Hotel.  Geise made his comments during last weekend's "Community Spotlight" program on the six Media One Radio Group stations.

Jamestown man arrested for trespassing inside condemned apartment building...
A city man is accused of barricading himself inside a condemned apartment house in Jamestown late Wednesday afternoon... and, refusing to leave.  City police were called to 209 Spring St. just after 4 p.m. to assist the fire department and Department of Development evacuate to "The Jungle" Apartments.  Once officers arrived... they found that 43 year-old Michael Saxon was barricaded inside his apartment with a refrigerator up against the door.  After about 20 minutes of de-escalation attempts, Saxon became more hostile towards officers.  They then forced the door open... and, were able to take Saxon into custody without any injuries to him, or police.  He was charged with second-degree criminal trespass... and, second-degree obstructing governmental Administration.  He was take to the city jail without further incident... and, later release with appearance tickets for city court.

Jamestown schools won't have to worry NYS Regents decree on clothing with Native American imagery...
Jamestown public school officials are breathing a sigh of relief after state Education leaders decided against banning students from wearing clothing with any kind of Native American imagery on it.  School Superindent Kevin Whitaker says the district has begun steps to now eliminate the name "Red Raiders" from the schools.  However... Whitaker says there was concern voiced after the Board of Regents initial plan also banned students from wearing clothing with Native American imagery in it.  He says the Regents had intially voted in favor of that being in the new regulations...but, have since taken that out.